G STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE 



the bye, why should the sort of grapes which thrive in 

 this island not be capable of culture in some of the British 

 islands; on the mountains of Trinidad, for instance? Our peo- 

 ple could learn, as well as the Portuguese, to ferment the 

 must in cellars, and to throw in quick lime, when any ten- 

 dency to acetous fermentation is perceived. The government 

 ought to lower the duty on wines imported from the Cape 

 and from Trinidad, so as to confer the monopoly of the Bri- 

 tish market on the wine-makers, who might arise in our own 

 colonies. The olive could in like manner probably be 

 cultivated in the hilly parts of Jamaica, and elsewhere. — 

 Our laws have not enough reciprocity : the colonies must buy 

 no where but in Great Britain ; while Great Britain gives no 

 corresponding preference to her colonies. Now that the 

 Gallipoli oils grow in French territory, there is some chance, 

 perhaps, that an attempt may be made to supply our woollen 

 manufactories from provinces of our own. Recruiting in the 

 Mediterranean for the garrisons in the West-Indies has been 

 suggested ; it might indirectly improve their agriculture, by 

 introducing some peasants accustomed to grow oil, wine, rice 

 find silk. 



On the 27th January we saw the snow on the Peak of 

 Tcneriffe, the only part of Africa I am ever likely to behold. 

 Three of our horses died in this neighbourhood. On the 

 7th February we were surrounded by flying-fish. Several of 



